The California DMV will allow more drivers with plug-in hybrids privileged access to high occupancy vehicle lanes.
Starting this month, the DMV is offering an additional 15,000 green HOV stickers, granting plug-in hybrid vehicles access to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The state stopped offering HOV access to plug-in hybrids after issuing all 55,000 planned permits through September 23, 2014, but new legislation is opening the door for more. Assembly Bill 2013 took effect on January 1 and it increases the maximum number of green stickers to 70,000.
The California DMV is still offering an unlimited number of white stickers for pure electric vehicles with a single occupant to access HOV lanes.
Hybrid vehicles were previously allowed access to carpooling lanes, but an increasing number of vehicles that are more efficient caused the state to stop offering access to those vehicles. The last program that allowed hybrid vehicles access concluded on July 1, 2011.
The bill takes effect at a time that coincides with a huge drop in gas prices that, among other things, will make owning a high-priced plug-in hybrid less attractive proposition for some people.
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